CARE Endometriosis Check List

Endometriosis is a common cause of period pain, chronic pelvic pain, indertility and adhesions.

Endometriosis may affect women during the menstruating years. This means the onset may be at any time from puberty to menopause. It is estimated that 10-15% of women may have this condition.

Despite increasing awareness, research has shown that it still takes a woman on average 8 to 9 years from the onset of her first symptoms to the time the diagnosis of endometrioiss is confirmed. This often means years of unnecessary suffering and delay in obtaining appropriate advice and effective treatments.

Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment for endometriosis and prevention of long-term complications of pain and infertility.

At CARE, we have developed the CARE Endometriosis Check List to help women and their family physicians beware of the possible diagnosis of endometriosis.

If you happen to experience many of the following symptoms, then there is a strong chance that you may have endometriosis.

symptoms thought to be due to irritable bowel syndrome but with a cyclical pattern

Infertility:

primary or secondary infertility

endometriosis may contribute to unsuccessful IVF treatment

endometriosis may be responsible for up to 30% of women with infertility

Other symptoms:

Chronic fatigue

Prementrual tension

Anxiety, depression

If you happen to experience many of the following symptoms, then there is a strong chance that you may have endometriosis.

If you happen to experience many of these symptoms despite having been on the contraceptive pill, and the symptoms persist despite having had medications and / or surgery for treatment of endometriosis, you may have 'deep infiltrative endometriosis', a more severe and often painful form of endometriosis which grows deep under the peritoneum, making it difficult to detect or fully treated.

Please check with your family doctor and get a referral to if you wish to see Professor Alan Lam for an opinion by appointment on 02 - 9966 9121 .